October 21, 2017

How do you spot a liar? Watch their eyes, says champion poker player Phil Hellmuth. Hellmuth has made a career out of calling peoples’ bluffs. So far, he’s won 14 bracelets at the World Series of Poker and a total of $21,971,705 at live tournaments. Hellmuth partly credits his ability to read people as the secret to his success. “Success in the game is 70% reading people and only 30% reading the cards,” he wrote in the book “Read ‘Em and Reap,” which he co-authored with writer Marvin Karlins and former FBI agent Joe Navarro. The “Poker Brat” author has picked up one trick to help him get a better read on people’s true feelings — and detect potential lies. It’s a simple test anyone can use, whether you’re dealing with someone bluffing over a hand of cards or a chronic workplace liar. “You can stare at people,” Hellmuth told Business Insider. “It’s super effective.” Being able to watch the eyes dilate or constrict can give you a quick read on what a person is feeling. It is a skill that needs to be cultivated and you should trust your instincts. People have little ability to control how their pupils react to stimuli, which is what makes watching someone’s pupils a great tell. Of course, changes in pupil diameter signal a person’s emotional state — not dishonesty. But if an individual’s words don’t match their eyes, you might want to take note. For example, if your friend gets a call that causes their pupils to contract but they claim they’re fine afterward, something might be off. If you’re in a tough situation and you need a genuine answer, then look the person in the eye and ask a question. Never stop learning and growing and cultivating new skills. New habits will continue to strengthen the brain over time in my opinion.

Cutting back your spending isn’t the only way to save more. Finding ways to up your income can help you build wealth and hit your goals faster—and it doesn’t have to require a lot of time or effort. You can ask for a raise, pick up a side gig (as nearly a third of U.S. workers are doing now) or consider a third powerful income-boosting strategy. Say hello to passive income—a low-effort cash flow that’s steady, predictable and relatively easy to maintain. Here’s how four people have done it successfully. As discussed in previous blogs, passive income is a misnomer. To create it, you truly do have to put in some form of effort. Whether it’s a savings account or a rental property, there should be some form of time, energy, and even finances put into an asset for it to generate passive income. This article has four examples that can help encourage your imagination. “My dividend portfolio pays me over $1,200 a month.”— Bob Lai, 35, tech product manager and blogger in Vancouver, Canada “High-dividend stocks are my secret weapon, netting me more than $1,200 in passive income every month with virtually no effort. Basically, this means that I’ve invested in stocks that pay dividends to shareholders, so I essentially get a cut of each company’s profits every quarter—100% of which I reinvest. This lets me buy more shares without having to shell out more money, which is a huge benefit when the price ticks up. My strategy did require some initial effort. But while thoroughly evaluating investments—by checking out price-to-earnings ratios, historical dividend growth and company statements—before purchasing may seem like an intimidating task, I actually enjoy it and don’t mind immersing myself in the research. Bob also diversifies his portfolio by investing in ETF index funds. “Passive income pays my bills—and allows me to travel the world.”—Cat Coquillette, 30, location-independent illustrator and designer in Chiang Mai, Thailand “Thanks to some solid passive income streams, which make up about 90% of my monthly earnings, I’m anything but a starving artist. In addition to my illustration and design business, I earn about $7,000 a month via art licensing through print-on-demand companies. These are websites that print your artwork on things like apparel, phone cases and notebooks, then sell the items online. For example, I created a design for a travel mug that sells for $24.99; I get 10% of each sale. This may not sound like much, but it adds up, especially when you submit a lot of designs. I upload paintings both new and old, so instead of collecting dust, my artwork can earn some cash. She also makes money through traditional art licensing, and through online tutorials. I’ve included only two of the four examples. If you know exactly how much your monthly expenses are, and if your passive income becomes greater than your expenses, then you can retire, or at the very least lose your job and still be able to live. A word of caution, I think it’s foolish to quit your job in the pursuit of acquiring passive income generating assets. I know someone who quit his job to build a business against my and some wise business men’s council, and I watched his financial life fall apart. He now jumps from job to job and one get rich scheme to another. Your job no matter what it is, it is providing for your healthcare expenses, paying your existing bills, putting food on the table, and caring for your family. Build your assets over time with your job. Before you ever quit your job, know your numbers, have a plan, and surround yourself with good wise friends.